Tag: election stress

Like everyone else I thought that by now – a full three months after election day – politics would once again be in the background of our lives. Obviously that hasn’t happened. Instead, it seems like the stress and dissent has only increased.

Once again I spoke with the Huffington Post this week about how psychologists (no matter their personal politics) are managing with all the stress in the air. Here’s my my tip:

Did you make it through Thanksgiving? How are you feeling about Christmas? It’s fast approaching, and guess what?

Your family is still your family, and your politics are still your politics.

I recently spoke to the fun folks over at BuzzFeed about how to deal with tough conversations with family over the holiday season. As always, BuzzFeed’s take on the topic is funny – but also filled with really useful tips. Here’s a favorite:

As the booze flows, so do the inappropriate and inflammatory comments and questions. Resist the urge to engage in a drunken argument – nothing good ever comes from it.

There is a lot of tension in the country right now. And we knew it was going to be this way, right? No matter the outcome of the election, there were always going to be many, many millions of folks who’d supported the losing side. And after a full of year of debate, nastiness and name-calling in the political arena, more rancor post-November 8th was exactly what NONE of us needed.

And now here come the holidays. A time that’s supposed to be shiny, bright and Pinterest-worthy – but is actually often stressful, disappointing and overwhelming.

I’ve been talking to quite a few folks in the media this week about tips for how to manage holiday gatherings with family members who are on different sides of the political debate. A few things have come to my mind in these conversations, not the least of which is:

The love shared between families is made up of many (in my mind, more interesting) reasons:

We share the same history – the history we can remember and the history that happened generations before we arrived

We have lots of shared memories – of things good, bad and in between

We root for the same football team, laugh at the same dumb movies, like the same weird food, etc

We have forgiven each other for mistakes and hurts big and small – and will continue to do so many more times in the years to come

We accept each other for what we really are: Not what we post on our Facebook page or send in our holiday cards

We sit with each other when we are sick, hold each other’s hands when we grieve and celebrate together when a milestone is reached

Feelings about the election and the coming administration are intense, but let’s all try to keep it in perspective. Shared political beliefs rarely occur in families anyway, and this year is no different. To expect agreement this holiday season will likely only result in frustration. Instead try focusing on all the many things we do have in common and love about each other. Pumpkin pie, anyone?

Well, it’s been a couple of days and I think (I hope) the dust is starting to settle from the election and all its ugliness. No matter who you supported, didn’t support, or tried to ignore it’s been a rough few months. And no matter whether your candidate won or not – the election has been decided and we need to move forward as individuals and citizens.

Four years ago I wrote an article about “Post-Election Stress Disorder.” Check out the whole thing here, or see a few of my tips for managing below:

I also got to contribute to a few news stories on coping with post election stress this week. Here’s one from the Denver Post:

The main take away? Turn off the media and engage with those you love. Try to stay positive and keep moving forward.

We’re getting close, folks. Just a month left until the election – and I think all of us are feeling the uptick of anxiety. Sure, every election year carries its own stress and worries, but for many of us, this year’s presidential election feels particularly contentious/nasty/overwhelming. Even those of us who try to stay out of the political fray are feeling it.

So what can we do to manage over the next few weeks? How do we stop ourselves from succumbing to political hype, leaving ulcers, tears and panic attacks in their wake?

Keep it in perspective. Remember when people threatened to leave the country if Bush, Jr won? Remember the “No-Bama” stickers? The anti-Catholic/Kennedy sentiments? Presidential elections are often nasty, doom-and-gloom affairs. There are ALWAYS people predicting the end of our country if so-and-so wins. Thankfully, the U.S. has withstood all those prophesies. No matter which side of the divide you’re on, chances are very high that we will survive no matter who our next president is.

Keep it local. Many political and government experts tell us that it is our local elections that actually have the most impact on our day-to-day lives. School bonds, town councils and other super-local issues can shape our lives in very tangible ways. Keeping this in mind can help keep the importance (and non-stop coverage) of the national elections in perspective. I.e., “My favorite presidential candidate may not win, but I feel great about the direction my city is taking.”

Keep in contained. Mud-slinging and name-calling may have always been a part of presidential politics, but 24 hour coverage on TV, radio, print media and social media is new. When I go online, sometimes I just want to hear about the most recent celebrity gossip. Unfortunately for my mental health, I am often confronted with the newest, nastiest election news as well. In other words: It’s hard to escape the coverage! In our hyper-connected world, keeping election news to a minimum may just mean turning off all media. Gulp.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a couple posts on Pre-Election Stress Disorder. What started out as a sort of tongue-in-cheek post ended up as one of my most popular, and even led to a radio interview on WHYY FM in Philadelphia. When I was contacted yesterday by a reporter for comments about POST-Election Stress, I figured I should write something about that, too! Here goes:

There can be several reasons for feeling stressed, sad, or just plain overwhelmed after the election. Some would argue that the protracted election brought out some of the worst of our country (nasty ads, downright lies, unproductive and sometimes ugly debates). This alone can be reason to feel disappointment and anger at the process and the players involved.

Of course one can also feel stressed and angered about the outcome of the election. And let’s not forget that the position of the President wasn’t the only one for which we were voting. Representatives at all levels were chosen last night, as were local ballot measures affecting how our communities operate. It can be easy to forget – with all of Obama and Romney’s hoopla – that folks might be struggling with the outcomes of these “smaller” ballot questions too. (I for one have very strong feelings about the legalization of a certain fringy-leafed plant in my state – but the reasons for that are for another post).

So how can we cope with our disappointment, stress, anger, or fear?

Keep on Keeping on. Most of us have some pretty good stress management strategies on board already. Whether it’s walking, talking to a trusted friend, playing cribbage, doing yoga, reading, or praying – most of us can cite at least one thing that we are already doing that helps manage stress. Trouble is, when stress hits, we sometimes abandon these good coping tools – just when we need them most! Today is the perfect day to carve out a few minutes to practice the stress management skills you already have.

Take a Step Back. The cool thing about this country is that it keeps on ticking no matter who is in charge. You may be able to point to great presidents and not so great ones, but the fact is: times marches on. Instead of focusing on today, try taking a longer view of both our history and our future. Putting things in perspective can be a highly effective way to manage stress in the here and now.

Do Something. As I mentioned in my post about Pre-Election Stress Disorder, there are lots of things we can do to affect political change in our country (and what an awesome thing that is!). These include things like: volunteering for a political campaign, donating money to a candidate or cause, or running for office yourself. Doing something productive and worthwhile (this does NOT include posting nasty messages on Facebook, etc) can again be a super antidote to feelings of stress, anger, and anxiety.

Turn it Off. The election is over, we know the results, they are not going to change. The media continues to talk about it, analyze it, and second guess it because they have to – they have lots of airtime to fill. The good news is, you don’t have to watch it! Re-hashing the nitty gritty of the election isn’t good for anyone – especially if you are unhappy with the outcome. So turn off your TV, radio, and political websites and get out and do something fun!

*Disclaimer: I made up Post-Election Stress Disorder – it is not a real psychiatric diagnosis. However, the stress, worry, and anxiety that folks feel around this time every 4 years is very real. If worry and anxiety about this (or other) issues are negatively affecting you, please contact your health care provider.

The other day, I wrote an article about Pre-Election Stress Disorder, in which I described the symptoms and signs of the diagnosis*. While not a realpsychiatric disorder, stress, worry, and anxiety around election day are very real. The constant ads, news, and other messages may be exciting for some, but for others it can all become too much. If you have symptoms of PESD, don’t worry – there are things you can do to cope over the next two weeks of political bombardment – and they don’t include moving to another country! Some tips:

Turn it off. Remember the good old days when the news was only on TV a couple of times a day and the newspapers were read just once in the morning? While our constant access to “breaking news” – via TV, internet, Facebook, etc – can be interesting, it certainly doesn’t do much for one’s level of anxiety. News outlets would have us believe that in order to be an informed citizen, we need to check in several times per day, however, this is rarely the case. Even in our fast-paced world, news doesn’t typically happen at break-neck speed. With that in mind, it can be beneficial to have a set time to get the election (and other) updates once or twice per day. Other than that, keep the TV, websites, newspapers turned off.

Remember what’s important. Not to say that national politics are not important, but keep in mind that they do not transcend all of the other things in your life and/or community. Maintaining your health, relationships, professional life and hobbies are all important – don’t abandon them or forget about the real, day-to-day influence they have on your life. Keeping in mind all the things that make your life your own, can help in remembering that the presidential election – no matter the outcome – is just one small piece of the puzzle that makes up your life.

Do what you can, leave behind what you can’t. Here are some things we can do to affect change in our political system:

vote

work with a political campaign by knocking on doors, putting up yard signs, raising money

donate money

attend caucuses, rallies, etc

write to elected officials, visit their offices, etc

run for political office ourselves

Here are some things that do not affect change in our political system:

watch and read election/political coverage for hours each day

agonize over the fate of the election

threaten to move to another country if the election doesn’t go our way

give more weight to the election than it is due

fight and argue over who is right and who is wrong

Good luck managing over the next couple of weeks!

*Disclaimer: I made up Pre-Election Stress Disorder – it is not a real psychiatric diagnosis. However, the stress, worry, and anxiety that folks feel around this time every 4 years is very real. If worry and anxiety about this (or other) issues are negatively affecting you, please contact your health care provider.

Does anyone else feel completely overwhelmed by the election? I don’t care what your party affiliation, presidential elections (and their accompanying nastiness) can be a huge source of stress for many people. Even if you aren’t involved in a campaign, it’s tough to get a break from the candidates’ ads on TV, postcards in the mail, talk on the radio, and posts in the blogosphere. Commentators’ rhetoric and opinions are often enough to push me right over the edge. Does the same thing happen to you? Do you have PESD?

What is Pre-Election Stress Disorder*?

Underlying or overt feelings of worry or anxiety when exposed to campaign coverage

Preoccupation with the political campaign and coverage/inability or difficulty turning off coverage of the election

Feelings of fatigue surrounding political talk/un-heathy lack of interest in the election (i.e., becoming so frustrated you no longer want to vote)

Disappointment, disgust, or depression surrounding either: 1) The state of our country 2) The integrity of our people 3) Your own future

Desire to spend the next two weeks in a foreign country with earplugs and a sleeping mask on

Any of these things sounds like you? Well, you might have PESD! Tune in tomorrow and I will give you some tips for coping.

*Disclaimer: I made up Pre-Election Stress Disorder – it is not a real psychiatric diagnosis. However, the stress, worry, and anxiety that folks feel around this time every 4 years is very real. If worry and anxiety about this (or other) issues are negatively affecting you, please contact your health care provider.

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Welcome! I am a psychologist in Erie, Colorado. On this site you will find information about my clinical psychology practice (yes, I am accepting new patients) as well as my blog. I write articles about psychotherapy, technology, stress management, cooking, pop culture and parenthood - - pretty much anything I can think of, all with a mental health twist!

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Please note that the information in this blog is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for psychological or medical care. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 9-1-1.